Repeat mechanism fob cash regis



t- 1939. H. NEUREITER 2,167,771

REPEAT MECHANISM FOR CASH REGISTERS AND LIKE MACHINES Filed July 6, 1935 Snnentor Hubert Neureiter His Gttomeg Patented Aug. 1, 1939 UNETED STATES JPA'I'ENT OFFICE REPEAT MECHANISM FOR CASH REGIS- TERS AND LIKE MACHINES Application July 6, 1935, Serial No. 30,136 In Germany July 14, 1934 12 Claims.

This invention relates particularly to repeat mechanisms for cash registers, accounting machines and the like.

One object of this invention is to devise means whereby the amount of the preceding operation may be repeated without setting up a condition to effect said repeating in said preceding operation and without knowledge on the part of the operator that such amount is to be repeated.

Another object is to contrive means to automatically set up the condition for a succeeding repeat operation during the preceding operation and to provide means whereby the entering of a new amount in the machine during the succeeding operation destroys the repeat condition.

With these and incidental objects in View, the invention includes certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, the essential elements of which are set forth in appended claims and a preferred form or embodiment of which is hereinafter described with reference to the drawing which accompanies and forms a part of this specification.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view taken just to the right of one of the amount banks and portrays in particular said amount bank and its associated differential mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a front View, partially sectioned, of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail view of an amount bank and the repeat controlling mechanism associated therewith.

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the machine starting bar and associated mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the driving means for the differential mechanism and the zero pawl throwout shaft.

General description The repeat mechanism comprising the instant invention consists of a device that is positioned commensurate with the depressed amount key or commensurate with the amount on the totalizer being read or reset, said repeat device being locked in set position at the end of machine operation. Depressing an amount key in the succeeding operation renders mechanism effective that causes depression of the regular machine starting bar to move the locking means for the repeat device to ineffective position and thereby destroy the setting of said repeat device. However, in

case it is desired to repeat the amount of the preceding operation all that is necessary is to depress the starting bar to release the machine for operation and the amount of the preceding operation is automatically repeated.

A repeat operation is effected by retaining the locking means for the repeat device effective during the succeeding operation, which in turn locks 5 said repeat device in the position in which it was set in the preceding operation. Inasmuch as no amount keys are depressed the repeat device controls the positioning of the differential mechanism and causes said differential mechanism to 10 be positioned exactly as it was in the preceding operation.

The mechanism pertinent to the instant invention will now be described in detail.

Detailed description The mechanism of the machine embodying the instant invention is contained between and supported by a right frame 30 and a left frame 3| (Figs. 1 and 2), said frames being secured to at 20 machine base (not shown) and braced and sup-- ported by various cross rods, bars and frames.

A suitable casing or cabinet (not shown) encloses the mechanism of the machine, said cabinet being secured to the main frames 30 and 3| and to the machine base. The instant machine has a plurality of denominational amount banks 32 supported by a rod 33 and a channel bar 34, extending between the main frames of the machine. Inasmuch as all of the amount banks are substantially alike it is believed sufiicient to explain only one of said amount banks and its associated differential mechanism.

Each of the amount banks 32 has a plurality of amount keys 35, and, as hereinafter described; 35 the depression of any one of which rocks a zero stop pawl 36, pivoted to the key frame 32, clockwise to move the lower end thereof out of the path of a right angled projection 31 of a main differential segment 38, rotatably mounted on a bushing 39 loose on a sleeve 93 turnably mounted on a shaft 40 journaled in the frames 30 and 3|.

Each of the main differential segments 38 has an associated auxiliary segment 4 I, also turnably mounted on the bushing 39 and having a plurality of teeth in the periphery thereof, which mesh with a planetary gear 42 fulcrumed on a stud 43 secured in a difierential control plate 44, loose on the bushing 39. The gear 42 meshes with a similar planetary gear 45 loose on a stud 46 secured in the plate 44, said gear 45 also meshing with teeth in the periphery of the differential segment 38. The plate 44 has a plurality of V-shaped notches 4'! which cooperate with an alining pawl 48 secured on a shaft 49 journaledu in the frames 30 and 3|.

' frames 38 and 3|.

Also secured on the shaft 49 is an arm 58 with a roller 5| which extends within a camming groove 52 cut in the left face of a cam disk 53 secured to a shaft 54, opposite ends of which are journaled in the main The arm 50 carries a stud 55 which cooperates with the arcuate end of an arm 56 loose on a rod 51 extending between the main frames 38 and 3|. A link 58 pivotally conmeets the arm 56 to a lever 59 rotatable on a rod 60 supported by the frames 39 and 3|.

When an amount key 35 is depressed (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) a stud 6| in said amount key in cooperation with an angular surface 62 on a control slide 63 shifts said slide downwardly or counterclockwise against the tension of a spring 64. The slide 63 is slidably mounted on the key frame 32 by means of slots therein in cooperation with two screws 65 secured in the frame 32. The slide 63 is provided with a stud I I8, coacting with an ear on a lever pivoted on the key frame. The lever III is bifurcated to engage a stud on the zero stop pawl 38. A spring H3 maintains the ear of lever normally in contact with a stud H0, which positions the zero stop pawl 36 in position to arrest the differential member 38 in zero position. Downward movement of the slide 63, through stud H0, rocks lever counter-clockwise and the zero stop pawl 36 clockwise to release the differential member 38, as shown in Fig. 1.

Downward movement of the slide 53 also causes a stud 66 in the lower end thereof to impart counterclockwise movement to a crank 31, a shaft 68 and an arm 10, against the tension of a spring 69. The crank 51 and the arm 10 are secured to the shaft 68, opposite ends of which are journaled in the frames 38 and 3|. A link 1| pivotally connects the arm 10 to a latch 12 the upper end of which is pivoted at 13 (Fig. 4) to a control slide 14, slidably mounted on a starting bar frame 15 by means of slots in said slide 14 in cooperation with screws 16 threaded in the frame 15. The frame 15 is supported by the rod 33 and bar 34. Counter clockwise movement of the arm 18 upon depression of an amount key, through the link H, imparts similar movement to the latch 12' to hook said latch over a stud 11 in one arm of the lever 59.

Depressing a starting bar 11, mounted in the frame 15, sets the machine in motion and causes a stud 78 carried by said starting bar 11 in cooperation with an angular surface of a projection 19 of the slide 14 to impart downward or counterclockwise movement to said slide 14 against the tension of a spring 80. Downward movement of the slide 14 causes the latch 12 to rock the lever 59 counterclockwise, which movement by means of the link 58 (Fig. 1) is imparted to the arm 58.

Counterclockwise movement of the arm 56 moves the arcuate surface thereof out of the patch of the stud 55, thereby freeing the arm 50 and the alining pawl 48 to the control of the cam 53. The shaft 54 and the cam 53 make one clockwise revolution each machine operation. As the cam 53 starts to rotate, the configuration of the cam groove 52 permits a spring 8| to urge the arm 50 and the pawl 48 clockwise to disengage said pawl from the V-shaped notches 41 in the plate 44.

a notch 82 in said segment 38. The rod 83 is supported by symmetrical arms 84 and 85 secured to the shaft 48. The auxiliary differential segment 4| is actuated in one direction by a universal rod 81 in cooperation with a notch 86 in said segment, and in the other direction by the segment 38 through pinions 45 and 42, in a manner hereinafter described. The rod 8'! extends between symmetrical arms 88 and 89 secured on opposite ends of the sleeve 90 loose on the shaft 48.

During each machine operation the shaft 45 and the rod 83 are oscillated first clockwise from the position shown in full lines in Fig. lto the position shown in dot and dash lines through an approximate angle of '70 degrees The shaft 43 receives its oscillating movement from a mutilated gear I28 secured to shaft 54 (Fig. 5), which gear is normally in the plane of another mutilated gear |2| loose on shaft 49. The gear I20 is adapted to mesh with gear |2| at the proper time to rotate a crank I22 rigidly connected to gear |2|. The crank I22 is connected to an arm I23 by a link I24, and the arm I23 is secured to shaft 40. Locking discs I25 and |26 associated with the mutilated gears prevent rotation thereof except at the proper time. Through the medium of a reverse gearing, con sisting of gears 9|, 92, 93, 94 and 95 (Figs. 2 and 5) the shaft 49 imparts a reverse operating movement to the sleeve 90 and the universal rod 81. It is therefore evident that the universal rods 83 and 8'! have a reverse scissors movement and move at exactly the same speed and travel equal angular distances. ing the pawl 48 from the notches in the plate 44, in the manner explained above, releases said plate for movement by the action of a compara tively strong spring 95, under control of the rod 83. One end of the spring 95 is connected to an extension 91 of said plate 44, the other end being connected to the frame of the machine When the machine is at rest, that is, in its home position, the segment 38 is always in its zero position, and the arm 44 and segment 4| and the pawl 48 has been withdrawn from the notch in the arm 44, the machine is operated. During the first half of the machine operation the segment 38 is set in accordance with whichever one of the keys 35 is depressed, and the segment 4| is moved to its zero position by rod 81, if it was not set to zero during the previous operation.

When the universal rod 83 starts to move clockwise (Fig. l) the spring 96, acting through arm 44 and pinion 45, rocks the segment 38 clockwise until it is arrested by the depressed key. During the clockwise movement of the segment 38, the segment 4| will tend to move clockwise therewith because of the pinions 42 and 45 which connect the two segments. but the inertia of the indicator and printing mechanism connected thereto, in a manner hereinafter de scribed, tends to hold the segment 4| stationary. But, even if the segment does rotate clockwise during the first half of the machine operation it will only rotate until it meets the rod 81, which is at this time rotating in a counter-clockwise direction. The rod 8'! will then carry the segment 4| with it until the segment is brought back to zero position at the completion of the Disengagcounter-clockwise movement of the rod 81. Thus at the end of the clockwise and counterclockwise movements of the rods 83 and 81, respectively, the segment 38 and arm 44 will be in the position corresponding to the value of the depressed key, and the segment 4| will be in its zero position. 7 After the segments 35 and 4|, and arm 44, are set to these positions, the pawl 48 is rocked to engage the notch of the arm 44 to lock the arm against any movement during the completion of the machine operation, and therefore any subsequent movement given to the segment 38 will be transmitted to the segment 4| through gears and 42.

When the universal rod 83 is restored, in a counter-clockwise direction, during the last half of the machine operation, it picks up the segment 38 from the position in which it was set under control of the depressed key, and restores it to its zero position. Since the segment 38 is moved an extent corresponding to the value of the key depressed, this extent of movement is transmitted to segment 4| by pinions 45 and 42, thus setting the segment 4| to a position corresponding to the value of the depressed key. Therefore, when the machine comes to rest, the segment 38 is in its normal, zero, position, and the segment 4| and arm 44 are in a position corresponding to the value of the depressed key, the latter being locked in such position by the pawl 48. Differential positioning of the segment 4| is transmitted by means of a gear 4% (Fig. 1) to a corresponding type carrier and by means of the gear Hi0 and an intermediate gear IBI differential positioning of said segment 4| is transmitted to an indicator roller I532 for that particular amount bank. Return movement counterclockwise of the main differential segment 38 from. a second position to zero position also accumulates the value of the depressed amount key in the corresponding wheel of the selected totalizer (not shown). Clockwise travel of the plate 44 (Fig. l) is limited by means of a surface I03 on said plate contacting an abutment In case it is desired to repeat the amount of the preceding operation all that is necessary is for the operator to set the machine in motion by depressing the starting bar TI (Fig. 4), as the machine is always conditioned for a repeat operation, and this condition remains effective until an amount key is depressed. The worth of such a repeat mechanism is readily appreciated when it is understood that it is unnecessary for the operator to have knowledge of a spring 69 to disengage the hook of the latch l2 from the stud II and a spring I95 returns the lever 59 and the arm 56 clockwise to effective position, as here shown, to move the arcuate surface of the arm in the path of the stud 55 to lock the alining pawl 48 in one of the notches 41 to retain the plate 44 in the position in which it was set in the preceding operation. Clockwise movement of the lever 59 and the arm 56 under the influence of the spring I05 is limited by means of a stop stud I06.

It is, therefore, obvious that when no amount key is depressed the latch I2 is ineffective and subsequent depression of the starting bar 'I'I (Figs. 1 and 4) and consequent downward movement of the slide 14 and the latch I2 imparts no movement to the lever 59 and the arm 5t. Consequently the pawl 48 remains locked in the plate 44 and retains said plate in the position in which it was set in the preceding operation and said plate 44 through the auxiliary segment 4| controls the positioning of the main segment 38 to repeat the amount of the preceding operation. As a specific example, let us assume that the auxiliary segment 4| and the plate 44 were moved to the 2 position in the preceding operation. In a subsequent repeat operation the pawl 48 retains the plate 44 in the "2 position and the zero stop pawl 36 is rocked to ineffective position by mechanism hereinafter described. Inasmuch as the spring 95 is ineffective due to the locking of the plate 44, the

segments 38 and 4| remain stationary during the initial movement of the universal rods 83 and 81 until the rod 8! contacts the recess 85 and returns the segment 4| from the 2 position to zero position. This return movement of the segment 4| is transmitted by means of the planetary gears 42 and 45 to the main differential segment 38 and said segment is moved in a clockwise direction exactly the same number of steps as the auxiliary segment 4| is returned counterclockwise. adjusted in the position in which it was set in the preceding operation the corresponding wheel of the selected totalizer is engaged therewith and return movement counterclockwise of the universal rod 83 causes the amount of the preceding operation to be accumulated on the wheel of the selected totalizer. Return of the segment 38 from the 2 position to zero position by the rod 83 through the planetary gears 45 and 42 imparts a similar reverse movement to the auxiliary segment 4| to position the type carrier and the indicator segment for that particular denomination commensurate with the repeated amount.

Obviously the result of a preceding total taking operation may be repeated and added in a selected totalizer the same as the result of a preceding adding operation, the only diiference being that instead of the differential mechanism being positioned under the influence of depressed amount keys said differential mechanism is positioned under influence of the wheels of the totalizer being read or reset.

As above mentioned, the zero stop pawls 36 are rocked into ineffective position during repeat operations. For this purpose, each zero stop pawl 36 is provided with a stud I33 engaged by a finger on a lever E35 pivoted on the shaft 68. A lever I3I is provided in each key bank and the levers are all connected to move as a unit by a rod or bail I32, which extends through all of the levers I3I. The lower end of lever |3I is provided with a stud I33 held engaged with a cam I34 by a spring I35. The cam I34 is secured to a shaft I36, which receives one rotation each machine operation by a train of gears I31, I38, I39, and I46, on shafts I36, I04, 49, and 54, respectively. Thus, when the shaft I36 starts rotating at the beginning of a ma- After the segment 38 is thus K chine operation, the cam I34 releases the arms I3I to the action of spring I35, and the arms I3I thereby withdraw all of the zero stop pawls 36 from their effective positions, provided no amount key has been depressed. If any amount key has been depressed, the associated slide 63 is lowered to position a flange I29 thereon into the path of its associated lever I3I, thus blocking movement of all the levers I3I. When no amount key is depressed, all the zero stop pawls 36 are withdrawn to permit the differentials to be controlled to repeat the last entry. A control similar to the above means for controlling the zero stop pawls 36 is disclosed in the patent to Breitling, No. 2,116,779, issued May 10, 1938.

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admirably adapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood that it is not intended to confine the invention to the one form or embodiment herein disclosed, for it is susceptible of embodiment in various forms all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed, is:

1. In a machine of the class described having a plurality of amount keys, the combination of a member differentially positioned under control of the amount keys; means rendered effective in each machine operation to lock the member in set position for a subsequent repeat operation; a manipulative device; and means operated by the amount keys to connect the locking means to the manipulative device to cause said manipulative device to disable the locking means to prevent the retention of the member in pre-set position during an operation of the machine in which an amount key is depressed.

2. In a machine of the character described having a. plurality of amount keys and a starting device, the combination of a member differentially positioned under control of the amount keys; means effective in each machine operation to lock the member in set position and to retain said member locked in a subsequent repeat operation; and means whereby depression of an amount key for a subsequent operation connects the locking means to the starting device to cause said starting device to disable the locking means when a new amount is entered on the keyboard in a. subsequent operation.

3. In a machine of the character described having a plurality of amount keys and differential mechanism controlled thereby, the combination of means normally effective in each machine operation to control the differential mechanism for a subsequent repeat operation; a normally ineffective means to disable the control means; and means operated by the depression of an amount key for a subsequent operation to render the disabling means effective to disable the control means.

4. In a. machine of the class described, the combination with a plurality of amount keys, differential mechanism controlled thereby, and means to start the machine operating, of means normally effective in each machine operation to control the differential mechanism for a subsequent repeat operation; means operable by the starting means to disable the control means in a subsequent operation, said disabling means normally disconnected from said starting means; and means whereby the depression of an amount key in a subsequent operation connects the dis ablingmeans to the starting means.

5. In a machine of the class described, the

combination with a plurality of amount keys, differential mechanism controlled thereby, and means to start the machine operating, of means normally effective in each machine operation to control the differential mechanism for a subseto control the actuator, the combination. of a member, means to normally adjust the member under control of the actuator to a position corresponding to an amount added by the actuator, means to lock the member in said adjusted position at the end of an adding operation, said member adapted, when so locked, to control the positioning of the actuator during an operation of the machine wherein no amount keys are depressed, normally ineffective means to actuate the lock means to unlock the member whereby the actuator may be controlled by a depressed amount key, and means operated by the depression of an amount key to render the last-named means effective.

7. In a machine of the class described having an actuator for adding amounts, and amount keys to control the actuator, the combination of a motor bar to release the machine for operation, means to adjust the member under control of the actuator to a position corresponding to an amount added by the actuator, means to lock the member in said adjusted position at the end of an adding operation, said member adapted, when so locked, to control the positioning of the actuator during an operation of the machine wherein no amount keys are depressed, and means controlled by the depression of any amount key and operated by the depression of the motor bar to actuate the lock to unlock the member, whereby the actuator is controlled by the depressed amount key.

8. In a machine of the class described having an actuator for adding amounts, and amount keys to control the actuator, the combination of a motor bar to release the machine for operation, an adjustable member, means to adjust the member under control of the actuator to a position corresponding to an amount added by the actuator, means to lock the member in said adjusted position at the end of an adding operation, said member adapted, when so locked, to control the positioning of the actuator during an operation of the machine wherein no amount keys are depressed, a coupling link, connections between the coupling link and the amount keys to connect the link to the lock means upon depression of any amount key, and means between the link and the motor bar to actuate the lock means to unlock the member by the depression of the motor bar whenever any amount key is depressed prior to depressing the motor bar, whereby the member is freed to be adjusted under control of the actuator and the depressed amount key.

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination of an actuator, amount keys to control the actuator, a member normally set under control of the actuator, means to automatically lock the member in set position at the end of the machine operation, said member adapted when locked, to control the adjustment of the actuator for a repeat operation, normally ineifective means to unlock the member, and means actuated by the depression of an amount key to render the last-named means effective.

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination of an actuator, amount keys to control the actuator, a member normally set under control of the actuator, means to automatically lock the member in set position at the end of the machine operation, said member adapted when locked, to control the adjustment of the actuator for a repeat operation, a machine release means, means normally disconnected from the machine release means to actuate the lock to unlock the member prior to a machine operation, and connections operable by the depression of an amount key to connect normally di connected means to the machine release means, whereby the member is unlocked when the machine release means is actuated for an operation of the machine in which any amount key is depressed.

11. In a machine of the class described, the

combination with a plurality of amount keys and differential mechanism controlled thereby, of means normally efiective in each operation to control the differential mechanism for a subsequent repeat operation; a normally ineifective means to disable the control means; and means operated by the depression of an amount key to render the disabling means effective to disable the control means.

12. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a plurality of amount keys, differential mechanism controlled thereby, and deans to start the machine operating, of means normally effective in each operation to control the differential mechanism for a subsequent repeat operation; connections operable by the starting means but normally uncoupled from the starting means to actuate certain elements of the control means to render the control means ineffective; and means operated upon depression of any amount key to couple said connections to the starting means.

HUBERT NEUREITER. 

